Celebrate America’s 250th Via Immersive Tourism

Credit: Pixabay

In celebration of the 250^th birthday of the United States of America, American Cruise Lines is offering five Extended Cruises throughout 2026, which are designed to show off the country’s amazing historic sites, such as the battlefield of Gettysburg, to majestic national parks like Yellowstone.

Itineraries for the cruises range from 32 to 55 days, and prices start at a not so insignificant $27,200 per person, blending not only U.S. river cruises, but overland exploration, flights, and lodging in luxury hotels.

The 50 day Spring Across America Cruise (April 3-May 23) will take travelers from historic Charleston, South Carolina, all the way to Juneau, Alaska.

This journey features travel on five distinct vessels, “experiencing the country’s most iconic waterways,” and at each stop along the way, tour guides will be present to educate passengers about the history and wildlife unique to each region.

Among the itinerary’s stops are Key West, Memphis, New Orleans, and the Pacific Northwest before concluding in the Last Frontier of Alaska.

Reenactors at Yorktown (Credit: National Parks Service)

History buffs have two particularly appealing options, the Revolutionary War Cruise (Oct. 8 – Nov. 8, 2026) offers a chance to see the places that truly forged America into a country.

Kicking off from Albany, New York, the cruise will stretch across the East Coast, including stops in Philadelphia, where the Declaration of Independence was signed, and Yorktown, Virginia, where the War for Independence finally ended. The tour will immerse travelers in the history of the founders of our country. Fares for this 32-day adventure start at $30,105 per person, or $940.78 per day.

American Cruise Lines also offers a 36-day long  Civil War Battlefields Cruise (May 5-June 9, 2026), which provides the opportunity to see the sites of the battle among the states’ most famous clashes, such as Fort Sumter, Gettysburg, Shiloh, Vicksburg, and Antietam, stretching through 12 states and Washington, D.C. Prices start at $26,805 per person, or roughly $745 per day, and vary depending on room selection.

Those who prefer nature and the change of seasons, as the air begins to turn crisp, can take the extensive 55-day Great American Fall Foliage Cruise (Sept. 5 – Oct. 29, 2026), which will travel throughout New England, so passengers can experience leaf-peeping season firsthand.

The cruise starts in Alaska before snaking its way eastward through the towering forests of the Pacific Northwest, and through the river towns and farmlands on the Upper Mississippi before concluding in New England, the cradle of the original American colonies.  

Finally, the Great United States Cruise stretches across 18 states over 52 days, beginning in Portland, Oregon before following the path of Lewis and Clark through canyons and frontier towns. This is one of the pricier options, with packages starting at $45,645 per person, roughly $878 per day.

The cruise will wind its way through three of our country’s most iconic national parks, Glacier, Yellowstone, and Grand Teton. The next leg of the journey will include a cruise up the entirety of the Mississippi River, before concluding in the seaside villages of New England.

These cruises are not simply for the casual traveler, but those who truly want to immerse themselves in the history of our nation and those who blazed its trail. They offer a unique opportunity to explore the breadth of our great nation in honor of its two and a half centuries of history.